After a long delay, chapter 18 is complete. This chapter is also from Trunk's POV, since the end of the previous chapter was when Vegeta showed up. Thanks for your patience with me in writing this story.

Chapter 18

"I'm gay Dad."

I wait in silence for his reaction and I honestly don't know how he is going to take this. Certainly, it was not something that was ever discussed with him while growing up. I had just assumed since he never brought it up that it was his way of letting me know it was something he did not or could not approve of. Sex ed with Vegeta had been brief, mostly dealing with how to protect oneself from disease and how to keep things…discreet. That was it, sexuality had never been part of the equation

I glance out of the corner of my eye towards Goten, who is still sitting on the couch. I can tell he is trying to contain his nervousness and fear of my father, or what he could possibly try to do to the both of us. It's not an irrational fear…the two of us, while we used to be pretty tough fighters, have never come close to beating Vegeta together, let alone one on one. And, since neither of us have really kept up with training at the level he exerts, we are both well aware of what the likely outcome of any fight would be. I'm not afraid that he would outright kill us, but the thought of both of us ending up in the hospital…that fucks with my mind a bit more than I would like. I watch as Goten tries to put on a brave face, but for all of that, he's rubbing his calf with his foot and scratching the back of his head. Anyone who has ever spent time with the Son family knows this means he is nervous or uncomfortable. Deciding to let the chips fall as they may and realizing I need to take a stand in this moment, I move towards him, grab his hand in mine and pull him up so we are standing side by side in solidarity. I give both my father and sister an openly defiant glare, watching her as she squirms behind him in the doorway.

Clearing my throat, I state what has been on my mind for a while, in order to make both my sister and father realize the truth of the situation.

"I'm gay and Goten…Goten and I are in a relationship. I'm sorry if you don't like that or don't agree, but I'm not going to back away from this. It is what it is, it's what we both want, and I don't give a fuck if you don't like it."

I try to make sure to look as intimidating as possible, since I know my father won't take kindly to me for showing any sign of weakness, no matter that I have butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. I felt like I had been making progress with him to improve our relationship and I find myself wondering if this will just break the old wounds open again. But what's done is done and there is no point in hiding behind fears of disappointing him and going back to the way things were before I tried to escape my life through drugs, alcohol and sex. I told Goten I was turning a new leaf and I meant it, and if I can't stand up for us now, when will I ever be able to do it? It's now or never.

I watch as he shifts his gaze from me to Goten and then finally back to me. His gaze is unreadable, his face schooled in his usual frown, his arms crossed over his chest. I can tell he is weighing something in his mind before he does something I am not expecting. He suddenly starts to laugh. He laughs for what seems like ages and I don't know whether to be relieved or offended. Glancing at Goten out of the corner of my eye, I can tell he is just as confused. And my sister…she's looking at Vegeta as though he grew an extra head. I'm pretty sure she was expecting him to at least try to beat us up before telling us to keep away from each other. I mean, he could very well do that and this could just be my imagination, but he makes it all clear when he abruptly stops laughing and rounds on my sister.

Grabbing her from the doorway by the upper arm, he hauls her in front of him and has her face both Goten and myself.

"Apologize brat," he grates out in a guttural tone, his expression for her equal measures of disappointment and anger, something I have rarely, if ever, seen towards her from him. She seems equally surprised because she tries to turn around and back out of it by appealing to his apparent favoritism towards her.

"But Dad…please…do…"

Before she can say anything else or generate what I assume are fake tears, he pushes her forward and says the same words in a louder voice that brooks no opposition.

"I said apologize, and you will do so now."

Bra swallows uncomfortably and then wrestles her upper arm away from him before bowing slightly to both myself and Goten.

"Tr…Trunks and Goten, I'm sorry."

With that out of the way, she turns around to glare at our father who does not look intimidated in the least. I'm half expecting to see her stick her tongue out at him but he just growls at her and she suddenly is scampering out of my room. Before she makes it too far down the hallway, he roars at her to shut the door, which she does with a loud slam.

Giving a satisfied nod as soon as the door is closed, he turns back to Goten and myself. I squeeze his hand tighter for reassurance but my dad looks…relaxed for lack of a better word and I find myself second guessing every assumption I've ever had about him, that I have been wrong for such a long time. It's a sobering reality and I find myself wondering how many other things I have assumed wrongly about him, just because of how difficult it has been to communicate about almost everything. And the more I think about it, the more it becomes apparent that communication is the key to so many things and it is also a two-way street. I don't say anything and wait for him to make the next move. It doesn't take long since in general, Vegeta is not the type to beat around the bush.

"Hmph…she ruined my training to show me something as trivial as this…that girl needs some sense talked into her."

I stare at him in disbelief and I can see the same expression mirrored on Goten's face.

"That's…. that's it? You think this is trivial?"

He frowns at me and crosses his arms, tapping the fingers of his right hand against his biceps.

"You are an adult, that brat over there is an adult, and what the two of you decide to do behind closed doors is none of my business."

Again, not at all what I am expecting. I tell him as much.

"It doesn't matter to you at all?" I ask incredulously. He just rolls his eyes at me.

"Look, whether I like what you do in your personal life or not, if you aren't crossing a line that has been put in the sand, it is none of my concern. If you choose to put your faith in that knucklehead, so be it. You've been with many people far worse than Son over there and I can't say I'm surprised the two of you are…involved. And again, you are an adult just like he is. I would just appreciate in future if you decide to act on hormonal impulses, that you lock the goddamn door. It has a lock for a reason. I don't want to have a repeat of this in future. And finally, you will divulge to your mother your relationship with Son and then both have the courtesy to tell his harridan mother and idiot father the truth of things between the two of you instead of hiding it and being discovered like this. I think it will go much better for the both of you if you do so. Now, if there are no other fucking ridiculous surprises, I'm heading back to the gravity room."

And just like that, he's gone. As soon as the door shuts, I walk over and lock it and then turn around to face Goten. His expression probably mirrors my own…stunned disbelief. I watch as the tension from his body slowly melts away and he suddenly falls backwards into the couch, slouching back and wiping the sweat away that suddenly appears on his brow.

"Is this for real?" he asks, his voice a mixture of shock and complete incredulity. "That…that just wasn't what I thought was going to happen. I thought he was going to tear me up into little pieces or at the very least, beat the crap out of me for fooling around with you." He lets out a slow exhalation and rubs the bridge of his nose with his hand. "I just can't…I really cannot believe that just happened and I'm not in the ER."

I walk over to the couch and flop down next to him.

"I guess we both have completely misread and underestimated Dad. I thought we were goners as soon as he came in here. And the way he made Bra apologize…he has never once done that. I always thought she could get away with murder with him but I guess he does draw a line with certain things. But yeah…he's okay with this."

I suddenly start laughing, mostly to let out the tension that I've been holding in as soon as Bra barged in uninvited. I laugh until tears are rolling down my cheeks. When I finally stop, Goten is watching me with a look of concern on his face and he suddenly puts his hand on my forehead.

"Are you okay?" he asks, a tinge of worry in his voice."

"I am fucking fantastic." Without warning. I grab his hands and pull him towards me and kiss him full on the mouth. He doesn't protest but after a bit, he starts to pull away and I let him.

"So, uh…your dad knows we're together…um, what do you want to do about everyone else? I guess I have a little hope that since he seems accepting of you being gay and that you are my, uh, boyfriend, that maybe my mom will understand…but I'm not going to hold my breath."

I can see despondency settle across Goten's features as he fully disengages from me and sinks back into the cushions. I'm not really used to seeing him look depressed or worried because he's always seemed to be good at hiding his deepest feelings, but here he's showing me his fears and while I feel for him, I appreciate his openness and vulnerability. I angle my head sideways, and grab his chin with my hand, feeling the coarse stubble of his facial hair rub against it. I peer into his eyes deeply and can see how worried he is…how afraid he is.

"Look Goten, I don't know how it will end up, but we have each other and at least right now, we know we have two allies for sure…your brother and my dad. I know my mom will be fine with our relationship and I can't imagine your dad will have any issues with it either. And as for your mom, we'll just have to take what happens in stride. Even if she is disappointed or disapproves, you're her kid and I can't imagine she would turn away from you for long. You're her baby boy, and least that's what she says every time she sees you."

I try to make him laugh, but he just looks at me with his sorrowful eyes. I know he's convinced himself she won't accept it. I guess I can understand why he kept his relationship with Shinji in the dark like he did, even if it probably wasn't right. And honestly, had Bra not barged in on us, I would have been feeling the same way about telling Vegeta. I ended up having my agency taken away, but it thankfully worked out better than I expected.

"Look, I think it is better if we just tell your parents. I don't want to have to hide the way I feel about you. I hid the way I felt about you for years and I can't get them back, so enough of cowering in shame. People can accept it or they can fuck off."

That seems to shake him up a bit and he slowly nods his head in agreement. He pulls his face away from my grasp and then takes my hands in his.

"You're…you're right. Enough of hiding who we are. We are still the same people; we just happen to like being with the same sex. It isn't hurting anyone to like who we like. I'm no different than I was before except I know who I am and what I like and the same is true for you Trunks."

With that said, he slowly lets go of my hands and stands up. I watch as he goes to grab his computer bag and I feel a mixture of warring feelings in my gut. I don't want him to leave but I don't want to force him to stay either. The mood from earlier has completely dissipated but that doesn't mean I don't want to spend time with him.

"Goten, don't go."

I say the words and he glances at me and then to the door. I watch has he swallows uncomfortably and blushes slightly.

"You want me to stay after all that? I mean I feel like I kind of…uh…assaulted you"

I know what he's thinking about and I roll my eyes at him before jumping up from the couch and going over to where he's standing awkwardly. As soon as I reach him, I smack him gently upside the head, something we've done to each other since we were kids when one of us said or did something entirely stupid. I watch as he glares at me and rubs his head.

"Are you done saying ridiculous things Chibi? You assaulted me? For fuck's sake, I wasn't resisting, was I? Did I ask you to stop? Please get a life."

He has the decency to look embarrassed which, mollifies my sense of affronted pride a bit. Before he can do anything, I grab his computer bag from him, walk over to a table and set it down. Coming back to him, I grab his arm and steer him back to the couch.

"I want you to stay the night. What's the point of going home? It's not a secret anymore. I mean, even though we haven't talked to my mom, I can bet you my dad is going to tell her what happened."

He nods his head slowly and starts to relax, then looks at me out of the side of his eye before asking something I wasn't really thinking about.

"Have you, uh, ever been with another guy before? I mean…I know you've been with lots of women but, uh…I never thought that being with guys was your thing."

I flush slightly before answering him honestly.

"No."

He nods his head and then asks another question that I wasn't really thinking about either.

"Uh, how um…how far do you want to go?"

I rub my chin…I mean it was kind of spontaneous when he started making out with me but I hadn't really considered that either. I had just assumed that I would be in control if and when Goten and I had sex. However, considering how he had been the one to initiate things earlier in the evening and how he had taken control of the situation, my assumption was off.

"Farther than 1st base Chibi."

He blinks at me and then suddenly chuckles.

"Yeah, well, I guess we can do that."

"Only if you want to."

"Trunks thinking about you has been burning a hole in my head for the last two months but honestly, I don't want to rush things. I'm not averse to whatever happens between the two of us. It's just I feel kinda awkward thinking about your sister barging in."

I'm about to tell him I locked the door but he puts his hand up to stop me.

"I know the door is locked; I saw you do it. But, uh, depending on how far you want things to go, you need some equipment."

I roll my eyes at him.

"Like condoms and lube?"

He blushes and nods his head.

"You think you are the only one whose head has been burning for months? Besides, I may not have slept with a man before but I'm not a total greenhorn either. I figure anal sex can't be much different with a man than with a woman, and I do have experience in that area."

I watch as Goten chokes on his spit and starts coughing. I slap him on the back to help him stop. When he finally quits, his face is beat red and I can't help laughing at him.

"Fuck Trunks, sometimes you say the most shocking shit."

"What?" I ask innocently.

I watch as he mutters under his breath that he really did not need to know I'd had anal with women before. I just roll my eyes at him. I mean, for fucks sake, an anus is an anus. It has its own unique properties and I guess can be quite enjoyable if you prepare the right way…I just happen to not have ever been on the receiving end of things and I blush wondering if Goten has. For some reason I had always assumed when it came to the two of us having sex, I would be the one on top and he would be the one on the bottom. But, well…as Goten was the one to initiate, he might have other ideas and I suddenly realize that it might be a good idea to talk about that before things get…heated again.

I lean forward and brush a stray lock of hair away from his forehead, peering into his deep brown eyes before asking him my burning question.

"So Goten, saying we ever, you know, get to home base, uh…do you have a…um, how should I put this? Do you have a preference about who is going to be…uhh…who is going to be on top?"

There, I said it and I can feel my face and neck flushing in embarrassment over asking this particular question. I don't know why I'm embarrassed about it, but I stock it up to my pride that I am asking someone for their opinion about how to proceed with sex. Something, that to my current knowledge, I have never done before. However, asking Goten is the right thing to do. In the past, I did not really respect or care about my partners, but I love him and I want to have a relationship between equals. Before Goten, it was all about showing my power and making myself feel better in the moment. It wasn't about what my partners liked, although I never did anything that they did not want to participate in to the best of my knowledge. If they told me they didn't like the direction things were heading, I would stop. I wasn't that much of a monster, at least I hope I wasn't. When you are high on drugs and alcohol, it's easy to push the darker tendencies of your personality into the background because you can use your drunkenness or drugged out state as an excuse for poor decisions and shitty behavior. I know I certainly did that, and it does shame me to know I was such an asshole to so many people, including the one person I love. I've made a vow to myself that I'm never going to do that again.

Since the moment Goten came back into my life, and even before that, I've decided to start living my life the way I want to and to stop being a coward around the things that frighten me, like exposing weakness or vulnerability. That doesn't mean I like showing those weaknesses or vulnerabilities, but at least with Goten, I know he isn't going to judge me for them. He accepts me for me.

While these thoughts are going through my head, Goten looks back over at me and I can tell he is just as uncomfortable about answering my question as I was about asking it. He clears his throat and jingles is leg a bit before finally answering.

"Really Trunks, I, uh…hadn't given it much thought. I mean we didn't officially become an item until today."

I just shake my head.

"Fuck Goten, that's bullshit. If I have thought about it, and believe me that I have, I'm pretty sure you have too. So just say it Chibi."

He flushes slightly before he finally answers.

"Okay, I have thought about it, I guess…honestly, I don't have a preference one way or the other Trunks. I just figured it would happen how it would happen and I would be okay with whatever the outcome is. I think you are way overthinking this."

I know I am, but partly it's because I'm just a bit curious about how much experience he got from his relationship with Shinji…and jealous too. I know it's ridiculous to feel that way. I mean, I tried to make Goten jealous of the women I would hook up with at clubs and such, at least when I finally realized I liked him as more than a friend. I did it just to see if I could get a reaction out of him. I did things to him deliberately to try to get him to show his attraction towards me and then messed with his mind to punish him for not being open with his feelings towards me. It was a really shitty way for me to behave and I have no right to be jealous of what he had with someone, whom I assume was a decent human being. That being said, I'm part human and have irrational feelings just like the next bloke. I let out a sigh and then just come out with it.

"Yeah, I am overthinking things a bit, but like, I mean, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to, but what…what, uh was it like for you with that Shinji guy?"

I watch as Goten glances up at the ceiling, shakes his head and then gives me a wry look.

"Seriously Trunks? You sure have a way of beating around the bush about stuff like that. I thought that with you being the man whore you used to be, you wouldn't have any problem asking something like that."

I can see he's slightly offended but at the same time, trying not to laugh at me. I figure that's fair. It was a pretty stupid way to go about asking that particular question.

"Look, just because I have had sex with a lot of people doesn't mean I would go around asking them details about their past sex life, okay? And I mean, it's not like I ever divulged to you all the different sex acts I did with the women I hooked up with. I left it up to your imagination. I don't want to pry and you don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I probably shouldn't have asked that."

Goten gives me a serious look.

"Look, Trunks…I want to have honesty and trust between the two of us. That is important to me. No more hiding shit. No more doing shitty things to keep back what we truly feel or think. But it must be a two-way street. So, if you ask me a question, I will answer it, but you have to be willing to do the same. Like I said, what it all comes down to it for me is a relationship between equals. I know you have more money than me, you're way more famous than I am, and I could list a million other things that you're better at than me, but when it is just you and me, we are the same. It wasn't like that between Shinji and me and that makes me sad, but I would like to think my relationship with him was a learning experience of sorts to figure out what I want and what I need in a relationship, and to know that I deserve it. And I think the same is true regarding your drug rehab situation"

I try to rebut his statement about being better in certain areas than him, but he cuts me off before I have a chance to say anything.

"Let me finish, Trunks. I know you are just going to tell me that we are the same, so save your breath. Anyway, about Shinji and me, you know we had sex because I told you we did. And to be honest, I was the dominant partner in that relationship. That doesn't mean I want it to be like that with you. Like I said, equals Trunks. Equals."

I blush realizing we are both in the same conundrum…neither one of us has ever been on the receiving end.

Goten suddenly grabs my hand and squeezes it.

"Seriously Trunks, you are waaaaaaay over thinking this. I'm honestly not ready to go all the way with you right now. I don't want to rush things. I just want to enjoy being with you. I guess I came on a bit hot earlier tonight, but I can't deny you looked fucking hot in your boxers. But I really hadn't planned to go further than maybe 2nd base with you anyway."

"Chibi, please. I know I looked hot. That's why I put them on, to fuck with your brain."

Goten gives me a deadpan look before pulling back his arm like he's going to sucker punch me in the gut. Before I know it, I grab his other arm and we both lean forward and tumble off the couch onto the floor. We wrestle around for a bit like we used to do when we were kids, but this time it is subtly different because I can feel the sexual tension starting to build again. I pin Goten to the floor and this time, I'm the one on top, straddling him like I've done so many times before. He pushes up against me, but I have the advantage since I've been regularly training with Vegeta in the gravity room and he hasn't trained in Kami knows how long. I grab his shoulders with my hands and push him back into the carpet and lower my face so it's a bare inch above his. I smirk at him and I can feel as he struggles slightly but I can see his willpower starting to leave his face as his mouth slackens slightly and he takes in a small, shuddering breath. He suddenly whispers something I barely make out.

"How do I always end up like this with you Trunks?"

He suddenly surrenders beneath me and I lean down for my prize. But instead of conquest, I assert my self-control and kiss him on the forehead, the nose, and then brush a chaste kiss on his lips before rolling off him.

"You're a fucking tease, Trunks Vegeta Briefs."

Yeah, I am, I think to myself, smirking inwardly. But apparently, Goten wasn't kidding about his desire to be equals. Before I know it, he's rolled over onto his side and he throws his leg over mine. He grabs my chin and pulls it towards his face. I lick my lips and I can feel excitement starting to build and I suddenly realize something. I like it when he is assertive. I like it when he tries to take charge. I'm a bit shocked by this, but then again, it really isn't that surprising. It has always frustrated me with how passive Goten has always been about things.

Even though I put on the front that I like being the one with the power, I have never actually liked being the one to make all the decisions between the two of us. Relaxing, I welcome his lips and don't resist at all when he puts pressure on my chin for me to open my mouth. I do it, and once again I find my tongue twining with his. He strokes my tongue slowly with his, I close my eyes and let him. I feel his hand move away from my chin and down my chest, towards my belly. He slides his hand under my t-shirt and pushes it up so my chest is suddenly exposed. He starts rubbing one of my nipples with his hand as he expertly deepens our kiss. I hear a moan and I realize that it is coming from me. I can feel a flush running down my body and there is a warm, yet welcome ache in my groin.

His hand suddenly starts sliding back down my stomach. He pulls away and then asks if he can touch me. I nod my head and then wonder if I should be doing the same to him. I try to ask him, but as soon as I open my mouth, he's kissing me. I groan into his mouth when I suddenly feel his hand slide under my boxers and pull out my erection. He starts to slowly stroke my cock and I flush. He slides his hand up and down and it's like he knows exactly where to put the right amount of pressure to drive me crazy. I rock against his hand and I about lose it when I suddenly feel him cup my balls and squeeze. I try to say something but all that comes out is a strangled groan. I suddenly wonder if he's going to give me a blow job and the thought of that just about melts my brain.

He suddenly stops kissing me and pulls away slightly. His face is flushed and I can see a fine sheen of sweat on his cheeks and stubble. His hand is still cupping my balls. I take in a shuddering breath and then I suddenly feel confused. Why did he stop? I wonder if I did something wrong, or if there is something I'm not doing that I'm supposed to do? Again, this sense of not being the expert in this experience frustrates me, even though I know I do want him to be in control in this moment. But when I look at his face and into his eyes, I can see the desire is still there.

I pull up slightly from underneath him so that I'm leaning against the couch.

"Why did you stop?" I ask him. "Did I do something wrong?"

Goten's hand, I realize, is still cupping my balls and I blush slightly. He seems to realize where his hand is at, because he slowly and deliberately gives me a squeeze. I groan his name out, and his lips quirk into the smirk I'm sure I had on my face when I kissed him chastely on the forehead a few minutes back. I'm wondering how much longer he's going to keep doing this before he finally speaks up.

"Trunks, let's go to your bedroom. I don't really want you to get rug burn and I have to formulate a plan of attack and how far we should let things go.

"Uh…it seems like you already have a plan of attack since your hand is currently, uh…well you know where."

Ugh…I sound like an awkward middle school student who is just making it past 1st base. I feel sort of humiliated, but Goten just laughs. He let's go of my balls, pulls my shorts up over my cock, and then extends his hand out towards me. I grab on and he pulls me up from the floor. We stand there looking at each other, and I have this distinct feeling of indecisiveness and naivety. I lick my lips nervously and the butterflies I felt earlier in the day when I thought about him coming over to visit suddenly invade my stomach. Can I say that I am really not used to feeling like this? I know that I don't like this feeling of vulnerability, but Goten wants us to be equals and I have to stop pretending I'm something that I'm not.

He gestures his head towards the bedroom and then takes my hand. He pulls at it and I follow his lead. When we get to my room, I watch as he pulls his shirt off. He isn't wearing a t-shirt underneath, and I can clearly see his chest hair as it trails down towards his groin. He has less than I thought, and I realize that I have not seen Goten naked since probably before we hit puberty. I flush at the thought of what his dick is going to look like and I can feel an equal amount of embarrassment warring with anticipation. A juvenile thought rears its head in my subconscious and I let out a nervous chuckle when his hand reaches the zipper to his jeans. What if his dick is bigger than mine?

Goten gives me a curious look, before he strips out of them and the two of us are standing face to face in nothing more than our boxers. Well, I guess I still have my t-shirt on from earlier, even though it is kind of bunched up awkwardly around my mid-section. Grabbing the edge, I pull it over my head and throw it to the floor so we are now in an equal state of undress.

"What are you thinking, Trunks? You have this really goofy expression on your face."

I laugh awkwardly and tell him I had a sudden thought of a dick measuring contest with him. I can feel my face flush as I say it. Goten just chuckles and then sits down on the edge of my bed. I can clearly see that neither one of us are sporting the erections we had earlier. I slowly walk across towards him, and then sit down next to him on the bed.

Again, he grabs my hand and squeezes it reassuringly.

"Trunks, I'm not in love with your dick."

I almost choke on my saliva and I start coughing. Goten starts hitting my back, but all it does is make it worse. I push away from him and then collapse backwards on the bed so that I'm staring at the ceiling. After a minute or so, my coughing subsides, but instead of sitting back up, I just lay there thinking.

"Really Trunks…Your dick is just fine. I don't think mine is any bigger. I don't know why you even brought that up."

I sigh and rub my forehead. I said it because of my nerves, and I tell him as much.

"Trunks, can you please sit back up so we can talk face to face? I don't like talking to someone when I can't see their eyes."

Groaning slightly, I push myself back up. Goten is now sitting crossed legged towards the end of my bed. His face is open and candid, just like it always is. He starts to speak and I let him.

"So, I think how far things went tonight is a good place to leave it."

Again, I feel confused. He said he wanted to come to my bedroom and we are both practically naked. I can tell he notices the uncertain look on my face because he starts playing with his hair before continuing.

"I think we just need to get comfortable with who we are physically together. You…you seemed into it but then when we came in here, I could tell you are uncertain and I don't want things to move faster between you and me than what you are ready for. I think just getting used to each other's bodies is a good way to start.

I give him a wry smile and ask him how he proposes to do that. He shrugs his shoulders, but then gives me an answer.

"Umm, well…sleeping next to each other like this is good. And kissing, making out, touching each other. Just…I want you to tell me when you want me to go further. When we were in the other room, I was going to, uh, give you a blow job but I realized I hadn't asked you if you were okay with that and, uh…well, when I stopped, I wasn't sure how to go about asking."

I wanted to kick him.

"Seriously Goten? Fuck, I kind of knew that's what you were going for. I wouldn't have said no. I almost had a brain aneurysm thinking you were going to start sucking me off. It's been forever since I've had head."

I watch as Goten flushes and then shakes his head wryly.

"And, for what it's worth Goten, I want you to know that I really like when you take charge. I mean, it really turns me on when you initiate things."

I can tell that admission surprises him. He blushes more deeply and then lets out a sigh.

"So I fucked it up, didn't I?"

"You did not. You were just being considerate. I appreciate that. And honestly, my body and brain at that moment were kind of at an impasse. My body wanted what I thought you were going to do, but my brain was not sure. I honestly wasn't sure what I was supposed to do or what you wanted."

We sit and look at each other for a few minutes, both thinking along the same lines, when Goten speaks up.

"So here's the deal. In terms of our relationship, we need to do what your dad said and tell your mom tomorrow morning, and then we should head over to my parents' house and tell them as well, no matter how much I don't want to do that. As far as for the physical part of it, I kind of like spontaneous, but I'll tell you what I want to do to you and you let me know if that's okay. And the same for you. If you want to do something with me, you tell me and we can go from there. Does that make sense? Or seem okay?"

I can tell he's unsure about what I'm going to say, but I just nod my head in the affirmative. Maybe we are being a bit stupid, but again, the equality thing comes to mind and I am learning this type of relationship from the ground up.

I can tell Goten is relieved. He crawls over to where I am sitting and leans in to kiss me. It's a pleasant kiss, nothing racy or hot, but nice all the same. It lingers for a bit before he pulls back and lets out a long yawn. It's not as late as I'm accustomed to staying up, but it is past 9 pm and I know Goten was up earlier than me working on his PowerPoint for school and finishing up some of his job duties as the activities director for the West City Boys and Girls Club. He has become a responsible adult, which I appreciate and admire. When I think back to how he was when we were kids and young adults, he really has come a long way and tell him as much.

"Where did that come from?" He asks me in confusion.

"I was just thinking you're tired because you got up before me to do adult things. And I know you don't have the greatest self-esteem, but really Goten, you are a great guy. You really, really are. I think we should just turn in for the night. What do you think?"

"What about our movie?"

I roll my eyes at him. Seriously? He hadn't been interested in the movie, he started a make out session with me that got rudely interrupted, tried to move us past 1st base and then chickened out, moved us into the bedroom, and now he wants to watch the rest of the movie? I can feel the urge to smack him, but I control myself. I narrow my eyes when he lets out a small laugh and rubs the back of his head.

"Just kidding. That movie was really shitty, probably the worst movie I've ever picked. The acting was really sub-par."

Grunting, I ask him how he would have even known, considering his hand was rubbing my ass and his eyes were leering at me the whole time we were watching it. He doesn't answer and at least has the decency to look slightly abashed. Nodding my head, I pull open the covers and slide in. I know I haven't brushed my teeth, but I don't really care at this point. I mean, Goten did have his tongue inside my mouth for part of the evening, so he clearly knows what it tastes like and he can deal with my morning breath. I'm just too lazy to go to the bathroom. Goten doesn't say anything and slips under the covers. I lean over and turn the lights out.

I roll over onto my back and look up at the ceiling. I feel the bed shift as Goten scoots in towards me. He sidles up to me, rolls over onto his side, leans over and gives me a kiss goodnight. I smile at that. I am really enjoying these loving moments he gives me. I spontaneously lean over and do the same. We lay face to face on the bed. He puts his hand on my cheek and rubs it gently. I can see his eyes start to droop slightly.

"Good night, Trunks. I love you."

"Love you too, Chibi."

He's out in less than five minutes, his soft snores filling my bedroom. I watch him sleep for a few minutes, his face looking almost angelic to me. I roll back over onto my back and think…think about where I want things to go with him. I know that down in the bottom of my heart, I don't want to live a life without him. But for right now, I'm glad we are working through the changes in our relationship together. I know he's scared of telling his mom about being gay and about being with me in a romantic relationship. I'm pretty sure that Auntie Chi is definitely not going to approve, at least about Goten being with me as my boyfriend. She knows about my past as a player and she's always been very protective of her children. But I also know that I will stand by Goten and we will weather out the situation together.

We have each other, and for right now, that's all we need.

I can feel myself drifting off, and the last thing that I remember before finally succumbing to sleep is that this is the happiest I have felt in a really, really long time.